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Show ms . gxgeptlgn I? CgnYPnlprxiy. m hlgh hag Shown THE ZEPHYRSEPTEMBER the Park. tolTOPtty im and uf?h hw 19M. What wm Ihov he dealt lh.lnl( Uiat ?t lb this time, the Congress has not officially designated wilderness areas within Canvonlands. Two questions first If some of these eeo roads were closed, would that enlarge the wilderness areas? Secondly, would designating wilderness out to rest once and for all, anv plan to build the Confluence Road or will a corridor be provided for that possibility? Wlckware: Im sure you recall that wilderness studies were done In Canyonlands, and Congress hasnt acted on IL But the National Park Service Is mandated to manage those proposed areas as wilderness now even though they dont have the formal designation.. And as I recall, I was looking at the Wilderness Plan ' the;other day, that road corridor Is not provided for In the Wilderness proposal. ; vour From prospective and the trends youve observed In the Zephyr: over Parks the years. Id like vou to envision In vour mind what vou think Canvonlands will be like In another 25 years. Wlckware: First, I would deal with the GMP. I think certainly within the next 25 years there will be a new look at IL It Is Indeed crystal-balli- ng to attempt to prophesy how that might change, but I think there will be changes. I personally don't think they will be dramatic. I think there will be a need for a bigger visitor center at the Island; Ill deal with that A large staff will be called for because well be serving district first. larger numbers of people. Theres a great potential to at least double the use, not by our conscious efforts but Just by peoples' growing awareness of Zephyr: At 1 1 main street broiler 606 so. main 259-590- 8 577 Moab, Utah 84532 P.O. Box U.SJL 801 espresso, pasta salads lunch specials gourmet burgers vegie sandwiches 259-859- 4 800874-448- 3 summer clearance mountain bike accessories THE BEST OF THE WEST! Whitewater River Expedition Guided Mountain Bike Tours Combination Ride & Raft Western Ranch Vacations with River Trips Jeep Tours GmupJWholesaier Rates Available I 8 am-- 1 see Infrastructure Inter-igen- Confluence of Colorado and Green Rivers; Boundary Study, 1959. end up In Bureau lands. I can see that In the future, even backcountry campers will have to camp In designated spots, because ultimately It has an Impact dont see any expansion of roads; Zephyr: What about the campground? Wlckware: Thats a tough one. I think we have 12 sites there now, and the GMP calls for 8. I personally would rather see a manageable campground, and maybe you could pave ftfil road. But that Is complicated by concerns from More realistically, there Is some potential for putting the private sector. cy a government campground adjacent to the Park, perhaps an I will that ' be explored. campground. think thats a potential Weve talked about, and Im a Httle afraid to do R, but weve proposed building large entrance signs, 15 by 30 feet, at the entrance to both the Island and the Needles. Weve already approached the State with a proposal to accommodate both Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands with one sign. That alone could double visitation, and were almost afraid to do It because we dont have the staff to handle IL I I think the Needles will continue to be the Intermediate experience. think, 25 years from now, the proposals to have a more complete system of The visitor use will Increase and the visitor services will be complete. backcountry use will Increase. Some of the trails will be high grade. In 25 years, I think the Colorado River Overlook Road will be paved. I believe there will be discussions and compromises on 4WD use versus frontcountry use. I dont see any further Increase by roads Into the backcountry. At the Maze, 25 years from now, I see the potential for either the County or the State and an effort to acquire some federal funding, Improving access to the vicinity of Hans FlaL By the end of Its 50th year, I think total visitation to the Park will be approaching a million visitors a year. And as use Increases at the Island and at the Needles, theres going to be more of a push to use the most remote part of the Park, and thats the Maze. I think most certainly Itll be graveled and maybe a paved road. Zephyr: In connection with thaL there Is some speculation that tar sands development In the Orange Cliffs could affect the Park. Some have proposed expanding the Park boundary to preclude that threaL Do vou see Park expansion In the future? Wlckware: Most certainly, there will be numerous proposals to expand the I think theres Park. significant potential for at least the Orange Cliffs being added. I think theres less potential for the rim to rim concepL Zephyr: Anv final thoughts? Wlckware: Im tickled to death to be here during the 25th Anniversary. I Its a delightful spot In this country. certainly would say that my Interest as a player In the National Park Service team Is not In any destructive things for Canyonlands, but to provide the opportunity for as many visitors as Is possible within acceptable Impact limits. I think thats to serve lots more people without much greater Impact than the challenge we have right now through wise utilization of modern conveniences. With I those conveniences, think we can lessen the total Impact on the Park. If we lose the support of the American public, regardless of how high our ethics are, were dead. Not Just as a Park, but as a Park Service. If we Indeed become known as the agency that gets land and locks It up, If we are viewed by the public as a chain link organization, were In big trouble. Zephyr: Dont vou think that more and more Americans view Parks and wilderness as almost a savings account putting aside whats left? That Its not a selfish act: Its a very noble one. Wlckware: I agree with thaL It Is a very noble thing to do. I think we may be falling to get a significant portion of the public to follow that, and thats one of our challenges. I like to have Idealists on my staff because they present new Ideas, and I like thaL But the National Park Service needs to balance thaL and I dont mean a compromise necessarily. I think If we are purely Idealistic, without the public seeing the need, then we lose their support There are some who say that being Idealists Is what our mission In the National Park Service should be, and I think thats pretty puffery of us to feel that way. Were managing the peoples' Parks for them. parU ot the Neodl.,, and th. Maze, and even parts !I?aLTiM 23 hral?Led 9,M Prt of the Colorada Plateau to see eventually, were going to end up with a reservation ,8y8lem wtierG yu can call In from Cleveland y?e!!ia,ll certam dates at campsites. Quite frankly, some of our hard- - And b!LniamTeredPretty people are getting disgusted -- theyari Cleveland and then find everything full, so they . I Improving. incro... elne. SO PAGE 23 89 0 pm monday-saturda- y Bossl Bossl The bikes They are coming!" ; |